Archives for May 2011

Summertime may mean you have children with you more often as you shop. Here are some tips for avoiding stress and making shopping trips more manageable regardless of the age of the child. Tips like role playing certainly apply more to the younger child but pre-planning and clear expectations are helpful for all ages.

Consider some of these suggestions:

Make a list before you go – and stick to it – write most needed items first so if a child has a meltdown you can leave with real necessities

Budget – know how much you can spend and stick to it

Explain the rules before hand, “I expect you to sit in the basket or walk quietly with me while I push” or even something as detailed as “I will push for the first 3 aisles while you ride and you can help push for the next three”

Role play shopping at home to show how you choose, how you speak to clerks, how you pay. Use a real basket and your own canned foods to play. Remind children in the store how you did it at home.

Choose a time for shopping when you and your children are not tired or hungry

Even with older children, don’t try to do all your shopping at once. It may overwhelm the child’s ability to be patient

Prepare for your trip with necessities, diapers, a bottle of water a small snack or a favorite toy for comfort.

While you are shopping, talk to your child about your purchases. Give children a voice in decision making, “Apple or grape juice?”. Older children can help by putting things in the basket. Younger ones can place things in the cart as you hand them off shelves.

For all ages, avoid giving in to demands for treats. If your child loses it while waiting in line or because you have refused a candy bar, it’s worth losing your place in line to move the child to another area or outside until calm returns. This teaches that you mean what you say. Remain firm, it means fewer problems in the long run.

After the shopping trip talk about it. Emphasize how much you like being with your child and how much you appreciate her/his cooperation.

Did you know that parents are their children’s best and first teachers?

As parents you share the knowledge you have and encourage children to be eager learners. Do some science together. Science doesn’t just come from science books. Look around you and you’ll find science in everyday activities. Try some of these:

Ask your children questions: How do you think the clock works? Why does the bird make a nest? Why do the leaves turn brown?

Help children notice the things around them; weather changes, wind directions, new buds, spider webs

Start collections of plants, rocks, dead bugs. Point out similarities and differences.

Talk about the kinds of animals and plants that live close to you and far away.

Set up ways to watch what happens to cause things to change. What happens when a plant doesn’t get enough water or light?

Play the “What Else” game. Decide on a category such as animals with fur or feathers then take turns naming what else belongs in that category. This is a good one to play in the car.

Encourage your children to ask questions and then look up the answers if you don’t know. Read books that stretch learning and remember it’s okay to learn together.